Mouth-prop.



PATENTED JULY '7, 1908.

R. S. PRICE.

MOUTH PROP.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 4, 190a.

wi meow:

ROY S. PRICE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

MOUTH-PROP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed March 4, 1908. Serial No. 419,137.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY S. PRICE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mouth-Props, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dental appliances and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple yet efficient, durable and easily applied device for holding open the mouth of a patient while working upon the teeth.

The device is adjustable so as to be used in mouths of different sizes, and the construction is such that after the teeth or gum-engaging members have been engaged with the teeth the body portion or support may be turned around close against the cheek of the patient so as to be out of. the way of the dentist.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is aperspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mouth rop. Fig. 3 is a side view with the cushioned members in section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the body or main member of the device which comprises a vertical portion 2 and a lateral portion 3 extending at substantially a right angle thereto. One face of this vertical member 2 is flattened, as seen at 4 in Fig. 4, for a purpose which will soon be made apparent.

The free end of the lateral member 3 is bifurcated, as seen at 5, and in this bifurcation is pivotally mounted as upon a pin or pivot 6 the member or arm 7, preferably of metal and slightly concaved upon its upper face, as seen at 8. Upon this member 7 is a cushion 9, of any suitable material as for instance a rubber. tube sleeved thereon and snugly em- .screwin the thumb screw.

bracing the same. It will be noticed upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the cushion 9 follows the contour of the member 7 being concaved upon its upper face, as seen at 10.

11 is a sleeve having an opening therethrough for the passage of the vertical member 2, as shown. Projecting from this sleeve is the lateral member 12, the free end of which is bifurcated, as shown at 13, and in this bifurcation is pivoted one end of the member 14 upon a vertical pivot or pin 15, said member being concaved upon its under face, as seen at 16, and provided with a cushion 17 similar to the cushion 9 and concaved upon its under face, as seen at 18 in Figs. 2 and 3. This member 12 is vertically adjustable upon the vertical arm 2 of the body or support and is held in its adjusted position by means of a screw 19 having a suitable head or the like 20 by which it may be turned, said screw being threaded into a boss or projection 21 on the sleeve 11, as seen clearly in Fig. 4 and adapted to bear against the flat face or surface 4 of said vertical member 2.

The device is reversible, that is, it may be used with either of the members 7 or 14 uppermost, preferably the former, as indicated in Fig. 1. In applying the device the upper member is engaged with the upper teeth, or the gum, and the lower member 14 then adj usted vertically up or down until its cushion engages the lower teeth or gum and then the lower member is secured in position by The device is desi ned to be used at the side of the mouth, as s own in Fig. 1, the swiveled members crossing the teeth at right angles, while the body portion of the device is swung around flat against the check of the patient, as seen at the right of Fig. 1, so as to be out of the way of the dentist. The swiveled members 7 and 14 are made to turn freely on their pivots or bearings, but when the device is in the mouth of the patient the pressure of the teeth against the cushions tends to make the joints practically tight sothat the body por tion will hold to place when turned snugly back against the cheek. The upper and lower members 3 and 12 are disposed parallel with each other and both are ke t in the same vertical plane on account of the flat surface of the vertical member 2 receiving the point of the thumb screw.

The device may be made of any suitable material and of any requisite size and the means of securing the movable arm may be varied at will.

Other modifications in detail may be resorted to Without departing from the s irit of the invention or sacrificing any 0 its advantages.

What is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion, rigid members extending laterally therefrom, and parallel cushione members pivoted in said rigid members, said members having their cushions on their adjacent faces curved toward each other, one of said members being sleeved on said body and adjustable toward the other and also horizontally adjustable upon said body.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion with an integral horizontal member, a lateral member adjustable on said body portion, and swiveled members on the free ends of said lateral portion and member.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion with lateral member, a lateral member adjustably sleeved both lengthwise thereof and horizontally on said body ortion, swiveled members on the free ends of said lateral portion and member, and cushions on said swiveled members.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion with an integral horizontal member, a lateral member adjustable on said body portion both vertically and in a horizontal direction, swiveled members on the free ends of said lateral portion and member, and cushions on said swiveled members, said cushions being oppositely concaved.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a body portion having a lateral member and flattened face, a cushioned member swiveled in said lateral portion, a sleeve adjustable on the body portion and having a lateral member carried thereby, a cushioned member swiveled on said lateral member, and a thumb screw carried by said sleeve and engaging said flattened face.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of February, 1908, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

R Y S. PRICE.

Witnesses:

E. B. WHITMORE, A. M. WHITMORE. 

